Bought myself some flours

The most romantic thing I've ever seen has to be that one scene in Stranger Than Fiction (most. favourite. movie. ever. Tortured writer? Anarchist baker? Dustin Hoffman? Love it!). Will Ferrell, the mousy tax man, is in love with the aforementioned anarchist baker Maggie Gylenhall, and tries to win her over by running after her with a box of 'flours'. Not convinced? See it for yourself here.

So seeing as I'm still getting over things (see previous post non-regular readers) I figured I'd buy myself some flours for the time being and make some sinfully good chocolate chip cookies. All-purpose and pastry flours were all I could get but whatever, it's not like Miss Pascall was going to whip up delicious treats with spelt.
  

    Couldn't resist tasting some... (ok I lie, I devoured spoonfulls)

  

Pre-baking goodness

 

Mmmmm...

 
Now what did I do with four dozen chocolate chip cookies you ask? Well I would've eaten them all myself but luckily for me I promised to take them to a friend's wine tasting party saturday night. Whaddya know, chocolate chip cookies go really well paired with a '97 Shiraz (mmm... tobacco-y).


Well kids, this is the recipe, may it bring you love and flours of your own...


Come-Hither Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Adapted from Dorie Greenspan's Baking)

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 sticks butter, room temperatre (very important! anything harder/softer and they won't hold their shape when baking)
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs (large)
1 bag of chocolate chips (dark chocolate is delicious if you can find them, milk chocolate ends up being a bit too sweet)
(Feeling creative? Mini marshmallows, walnut/pecan pieces, chopped caramels, peanuts, chopped mint chocolate pieces... knock yourselves out)

Pre-heat the oven to 375 F.

Cream the softend butter (you could microwave it but if it melts completely the cookies will spread like crazy) and sugars for 2 mins. Mix in the eggs one at a time, add vanilla, salt, soda, then flour. Add chips at the end. Pile teaspoonfulls of dough (makes a good sized cookie 1-2" wide) on baking sheets lined with wax paper and bake in the middle of the oven, one sheet at a time for 10-12 mins. At the 5 min. mark flip the sheet around half a turn (by this time they'll still look raw) and keep them in there for the next 5 mins. until the edges start turning golden and the middle is still pale white (this keeps them chewy). If you like them crispy you can keep them in for another 2 mins. until they are golden all over. Let them cool in the sheet for a min. or two then move the cookies + wax paper onto cooling rack and let the metal baking sheet cool for a few mins. before you bake the next batch on it. I usually juggle between 3 baking sheet/pans- makes it easier, but the cleanup sucks.


Makes 4 dozen cookies, enough for 4 people or one misreable, heartbroken soul.


Forgot to mention, this is my next favourite scene.